Well, not exactly randomly. Twice now I've started a new game, only to fall on my back while trying to hit a rat or a wolf and just dying.

Some red text quickly appears and goes before I can read it, I assume it's a critical failure? Why does it happen so much? I died twice from the same thing in less than 10 minutes from starting the game. The first time in that rat cave, the second when fighting a single ailing wolf a few meters from the crash.

Yeah that sounds like a critical failure. What background did you give your character, and also what weapon are you using (and what is your skill in that type of weapon)?

If you go into the options you can have the floaters last longer as well if you want to see if you can make it happen again to see what you are dying from (but I assume it should be critical failures).

Yeah, if you are trying to attack with a weapon that you don't have any skill with, you are likely to critically fail and kill yourself. It's a bit silly, actually, but it does mean that you have to think a little more carefully about your character design.

It's often advisable to simply get one point in Melee, no matter what kind of character you're making. That way you can at least avoid killing yourself with a melee weapon if you need to hit something. Once you gain some levels and get some better equipment, you can switch to using whatever you want more or less exclusively, be it magic, ranged weapons, or whatever else.

I created an Elf with a "Child of Hero" background, still with the default sword that come with the perk.

I'll try again tonight and add some melee points. Any other skill I should add initial points to?

Thanks for the tips :)

Depends on what you're playing, really. Having high Con will make life a bit easier due to higher fatigue and HP, whereas higher Str will let you carry more and deal more melee damage, which will be most helpful if you plan on not using too many followers. High Dex is good, but you have that covered due to being an Elf. 9 Cha will let you grab Sog Mead Mugg in Shrouded Hills, who will last you through the game and is generally useful both as a melee fighter and packrat. If you plan on leaning towards magic then pick up Harm ASAP as it's extremely powerful. Putting a point into Persuasion is good if you want to go that route. But really, as long as you don't make any ridiculous decisions (like minimizing all your stats and then just sticking points in random skills and recipes) you should be fine.

Luckily, you can't actually do that in Arcanum. You aren't allowed to lower stats below their base value in game (unlike in Fallout or BG for example). :)

Great, thank you :D

I usually put 2 into Melee right away, makes the start of the game more straightforward, and makes it easier to gain *more* character points :)

Once you get the technological Pyrotechnics Axe .... and you're a slightly magical character (aptitude 30 or more), crit fails will be devastating. Pyro Axe deals 40 damage, a failure means your life bar will go down 60-90 points

Why would you bother to make a pyrotechnic axe as a mage character? You have to 1) find the schematic (it is not on the beaten path really); 2) get the materials to build the axe; 3) either spend character points in Smithy, or buy a bunch of manuals; and 4) actually build it.

Yeah it is a great weapon, but I don't see how you can accidentally use it.

Now, magical weapons with a tech character - that is more likely. Though there is more of a chance of the weapon just being sucky rather than it failing all the time with magical weapons with a low/negative magic aptitude.

Oh there's nothing accidental about my character's use of Pyro Axe, its just the result of my non-commitment to either the tech or mage way :)

Originally I spent points to build a tech char, since Smithing offers great weapons for minimal spend e.g. Balanced Sword and Featherweight Axe. That axe + one schematic + Fuel + correct skills = Pyro Axe

But then I read that some magical weapons wielded by a highly adept mage would be more damaging hence I started going mage-way, hence the -80HP self inflicted injuries. Mastery in Melee would put an end to those though, absolutely no chance of critical fails with a melee weapon, unless facing a Master in dodge.

the gaming gods are angry with you for some reason. perhaps you should play games more often, thus appeasing them. one thing you do not want to do: insult the holy trinity: fallout, baulders gate, and planescape torment. that will anger them like never before, and you will never level up again.